Image
We Love 'El Tosco'
Amaranta Wright ventures down memory lane and to Miami in the 90s when she first heard the late great José Luis Cortés aka El Tosco, “the Rough One” and his NG La Banda, one of the greatest ever Cuban bands. The accomplished…
Renaissance Man
Doctor, poet and musician, Jorge Drexler has taken the long and winding road to global success. Winning an Oscar at 41 – the first ever for a song not sung in English – was just the beginning. Now recognised as one of the finest…
Imperio Bamba: 'Mis Cosas Favoritas' Review
London-based Imperio Bamba's sound mixes cumbia, chicha and afro with psychedelic synths and screaming guitars. Arden Farrow reviews their EP 'Mis Cosas Favoritas' which includes the single 'Los Amantes'…
Nando Reis' Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway this month is iconic rock star, Nando Reis, the bass player of one of Brazil's most…
The Global Adventures of Paquito D’Rivera
From child prodege in Havana to one of the greatest Latin jazz artists of our times, we pay tribute to the great Cuban musician and all round renaissance man.
Surrogate Latina #8: Ana Csergö, leader of Las Adelitas
From Back To Black to the Green, White and Red of Mexico's national colours, Las Adelitas is headlining this year's Mexico's Independence Day celebrations in London. Named after the brave women who took up arms…
Things That Matter to...Amaro Freitas
From the slums of Recife in Brazil's North-East to international jazz icon, Amaro Freitas has earned the music world's attention for "an approach to the keyboard so unique that it's startling" (Downbeat…
She Who Demands the Stage
Diva is the Latin word for goddess and Cuban-Spanish singer, Lucy Calcines, became just that when her performance on The Voice UK in 2020 raised the studio to its feet, got four judges turning and became the most streamed…
Things That Matter to...La Mala Rodriguez
La Mala Rodriguez is one of the most successful Hispanic artists today. When Rosalia was still in her nappies, Mala was recording with some of the world's most commercial Latino artists as the only Spanish rapper to gain…
J Balvin at the 02 Arena
A night of show-stopping, awe-inspiring production mixed with the perfect ratio of laid-back and heart-warming moments from the artist. J Balvin at this height of his career continues to set the standard for creativity, …
Latin Jazz Next Gen
Unlike other music, Jazz musicians get better with age. In Jazz linguistics, at 40, you’re a toddler just starting to talk! The following artists have pricked up our ears with their exciting new sounds. Both blessed and burdened…
Enrique Iglesias @ The 02
After a four-year absence from UK stages, Enrique Iglesias made an impressive return to Britain for his 'All the Hits Live' tour. In a packed o2 arena the Spanish pop icon proved this was more than the comeback of an…
Remembering, Mongo Santamaría, Cuban Percussionist (1917-2003)
Mongo Santamaria is arguably the best Conguero ever! Part of that generation of Cuban percussionists who emigrated to the States in the 40s and 50s, Mongo had a fantastic career, recording crossover hits, releasing critically…
The Fabulous Chameleons
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs have calved a place as one of Latin America’s most successful rock bands, thanks to a unique and ever-mutating style - a concept, they say they copied from The Clash. Latino Life talks to Vicentico and…
Music City Guide: Bogotá
Over the years, LatinoLife has built up relationships with amazing DJs worldwide, whose passion, knowledge and dedication to music we admire. In the second part of our new series MUSIC CITY GUIDES, where we ask DJs from around…
Baila La Cumbia
Baila La Cumbia - Tropical tunes from the South West guaranteed to get your feet on the dancefloor!
Salsa Hits of the 1980s
In the 1980s, salsa romantica was in ascendance with the likes of Frankie Ruiz and the tender melodies of Grupo Niche, while Ruben Blades and Willie Colón kept stretching the boundaries of political salsa. Whether in New York or…
We Love Johnny Pacheco
And this is the bit where we say thank you to the legend on whose shoulders we stand. Put simply, Johnny Pacheco, flautist, percussionist, bandleader, arranger and co-founder of Fania Records, was one of the most influential…
10 Argentine Female Urban Artists to watch out for
Argentina’s urban and experimental music scenes are bubbling with talent — here are ten women rewriting sounds and shaking up expectations. Follow them, listen close.
La Reina del Sur
What happens when South London Girl meets Telenovela Queen? You get Sasha Keable, whose passion-infused, full-bodied soul has been resonating with fans and raising eyebrows in the music industry for all the right reasons.…
Brazilian Virtuoso - an interview with Diego Figueiredo
At the young age of 35, Latino guitar sensation Diego Figueiredo has already recorded 23 albums and played in 60 countries around the world. Hailed by George Benson as “one of the greatest guitarists I’ve seen in my whole life”,…
‘Signo de Fuego' by La Evolución
Inspired by the modern Havana sound of large-format Timba (Cuban salsa) orchestras featuring electric guitars and synths over powerful, distinctively Cuban grooves, La Evolución is the latest creation of the acclaimed London-…
Raíz - Lila Downs, Niña Pastori, Soledad
An ambitious collaborative project from Mexican-American folk singer/songwriter Lila Downs, Latin GRAMMY-nominated Argentine folk/pop singer Soledad and Latin GRAMMY-winning Spanish flamenco singer Niña Pastori.
Willie Rosario Tunes that Rock the Dance Floor
One of the leading lights of Puerto Rican salsa, Willie Rosario aka "Mr. Afinque," this true legend of latin music has been filling dance floors for over 60 years, either by rocking it with his band or via his extensive…
Atlantic Records UK and ADA UK partner with new Latin music label CANDELA RECORDS
The first time there is a partnership with a UK based Latino music label
LATIN THINGS IN LONDON NOT TO MISS in 2026
You only had to watch Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show to realise why Latin Music is now officially the world’s most listened to. 2026 will be the biggest year in history for Latin Music in the UK with the first ever Latin music…
A Megaphone for Peru's Musical Wealth
One of Peru's most groundbreaking bands, with a trajectory of almost 40 years, PeruJazz has germinated the fusion between traditional and contemporary, folkloric and urban, the cajón and the saxophone. Drawing inspiration…
Spotlight on...Brytiago
Brytiago has become a platinum-selling Puerto Rican singer and songwriter well-known for his many own singles and featured collaborations. He has been an important figure on both reggaeton and trap scenes since his landing on…
Things That Matter… Jards Macalé
Having worked with some of the biggest names in Brazilian music, including Joao Donato, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso and more, Jards Macalé has garnered status as one of the most influential samba and tropicalia artists. Macalé’s…
LATINO LIFE'S ULTIMATE REGGAETON RECAP 2024
Reggaeton has had its fair share of the spotlight this year thanks to some of the hottest acts' songs catapulting into the mainstream music world. Stars have used their already large fanbases to their advantage whether that’…
Little Louie Vega's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need, to get you through those times of despair? Man cannot live on sun and fish alone right? Our castaway, Little Louie Vega, the world renowned house…
The Heart of Brazil
Brazil’s definitive fiesta front man, Zeca Pagodinho, is one of the country’s most loved artists. Embodying the free, easy-going Carioca spirit and representing the tradition of sambas de raiz (grassroot sambas), Zeca…
From the Underground to the World — and Back Again: The History of Reggaeton
Partying to the dembow rhythm - now a standard on the dance floors of the world, from London, Dubai and Cape Town to Medellín, Madrid, or Tokyo, it’s hard to imagine that reggaetón was once banished from Puerto Rican radio. The…
Lease of Life: an interview with Draco Rosa
Having made Ricky Martin's global career with the songs "Livin' La Vida Loca," "She Bangs" and "Shake Your Bon-Bon," Bobby Draco Rosa is considered Latin American music royalty. The two…
Latest Content
Film & Theatre
NO SALGAS (Don’t Come Out- 2026) by Victoria Linares Villegas from the…
Victoria Linares Villegas talks to Corina J Poore about her debut fiction feature film, ‘NO SALGAS…
Music
MARCH REGGAETON RECAP | 2026
It’s that awkward transition into Spring and the songs in this playlist have varied energies. There…
Society and Politics
LATIN LONDONER #68 - Hortensia Celis-Valenzuela, Community Organiser
Mexican-born Hortencia Celis has been a central figure to London’s Latin American arts for over…
Most Viewed
Top 10 Argentine Footballers
As one of the biggest football teams in South America and the world, the Argentine Football…
Top 10 Mexican Boxers
Globally, Mexico is known as a boxing powerhouse, boasting some of the greatest champions in the…
Ballads and Boleros
LatinoLife's Favourite Mexican Male Singers of all Time
Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality…
